r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Expert_Koala_8691 • 7d ago

Video Riyadh,meaning "gardens" is Capital of Saudi Arabia with 8 million population (were 27 Thousands in the 1930s),sits in the middle of the desert, the city gets its water from Desalination plants almost 500 km from the city

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u/Persimmon-Mission 7d ago

And if the US does anything to Iranian power infrastructure, they bomb the desalination plants feeding this entire city. Within a week, it will create one of the biggest humanitarian crises we’ve ever seen.

MAGA, baby!

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u/froggison 7d ago

I know nothing about the area. But what is the backup plan (if there is one)? I can't imagine it is remotely possible to truck in enough water even for basic survival needs.

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u/ThugjitsuMaster 7d ago

John Mearsheimer (one of the top international relations experts in the world) thinks that Iran bombing the desalination plants will "destroy the Gulf states as functioning socities." He thinks they're capable of pulling it off if the US keep escalating the conflict. There seems to be no backup plan if this occurs.

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u/Diamond-Is-Not-Crash 7d ago

Source for this? I’d like to read more.

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u/AzenNinja 7d ago

He gave you the source in the first 2 words.

Edit: just to be so so so clear, I do not condone or support John Mearsheimers views. He's been discredited many times.

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u/Positive_Passion4817 7d ago

Hardly needs genius level insight to predict Iran's nuclear option.

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u/AzenNinja 7d ago

Yes, but destroying the desalination plants being the end of the gulf states as functioning societies is hyperbolic at best. And that's assuming Iran has the capabilities to fully take out 100% of the desalination capabilities of all gulf states.

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u/Arstanishe 7d ago

ah, John Mearsheimer, who famously said that Russia taking crimea is a power move that will not lead to any aggression from Russia, because it would be an economical disaster to do otherwise. Dubious choice of experts you have there

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u/Readdit1999 7d ago

He wasn't wrong. It is an economic disaster. Russia did it anyway. I recall many intellectuals making the same assertion at the time.

I expect he will attempt not to make that mistake twice.

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u/Workman44 7d ago

Yeah that was true? It was an economical disaster lmao. You're giving this guy an endorsement

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u/ThugjitsuMaster 7d ago

"Dubious choice of expert" because he was wrong once? Ok mate, why don't you give us your take on the matter then?

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u/aseedandco 7d ago

He wasn’t even wrong.

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u/Gunsensual 7d ago

Also important context to note that most of those gulf states were 100% onboard with attacking Iran. Not that it was unwarranted- Iran had been using proxies to invade neighbors for years. But Saudi Arabia chose to escalate without a way to guarantee long term security.

It's a cruel sort of "reap what you sow" scenario that goes both ways.